Plan a flight · Mon 8:13 am EDT (12:13 UTC)

Southwest Florida International to Lovell Field RSW → CHA

540 nautical miles (622 statute miles) north on a straight line, true course 342°, about 346° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4W). At 120 knots that is 5 h 06 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 14-knot headwind), arriving about 1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC). Right now RSW is VFR, wind from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots; CHA is low IFR, wind from the west (270°) at 3 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 2 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 30,000 ft to 41,000 ft. Over the route from 128 to 295 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the last 59 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Near the route, 491 nm along the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 29,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Near the route, 511 nm along the route.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Near the route, at the destination end.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from RSW.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B38M at 38,000 ft, 23 nm east, 7:00 am EDT (11:00 UTC): moderate turbulence, no icing, remarks: ztlfd 22. 354 nm along the route, 23 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV VNA/TM 1100/FL380/TP B38M/TB MOD/IC NEG/RM ZTLFD 22
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
over VNA
Time
11:00 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
moderate
Icing
none
Remarks
ztlfd 22
B38M at 21,000 ft, 20 nm south, 6:51 am EDT (10:51 UTC): no turbulence, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 20 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RSW UA /OV RSW180020/TM 1051/FL210/TP B38M/TB NEG/RM DURD
```
Report
a routine report filed through RSW
Where
20 nm south (180°) of RSW
Time
10:51 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
none
Remarks
during the descent
B737 at 21,000 ft, 3 nm east, 7:07 am EDT (11:07 UTC): no chop turbulence from 12,000 ft to 21,000 ft, clear from 21,000 ft to 60,000 ft. 147 nm along the route, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CGC UA /OV CGC/TM 1107/FL210/TP B737/SK SKC/TB NEG CHOP 120-210
```
Report
a routine report filed through CGC
Where
over CGC
Time
11:07 UTC
Height
at 21,000 ft
Aircraft
B737
Sky
clear
Turbulence
no chop from 12,000 ft to 21,000 ft
B738 at 38,000 ft, 27 nm east, 7:09 am EDT (11:09 UTC): no turbulence. 157 nm along the route, 27 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
OCF UA /OV OCF/TM 1109/FL380/TP B738/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through OCF
Where
over OCF
Time
11:09 UTC
Height
at 38,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
none
B739 at 34,000 ft, 21 nm southwest, 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. 236 nm along the route, 21 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TLH UA /OV SZW120050/TM 1053/FL340/TP B739/TB CONS LGT OCNL MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through TLH
Where
50 nm southeast (120°) of SZW
Time
10:53 UTC
Height
at 34,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
continuous light occasional moderate
B38M at 35,000 ft, 20 nm east, 6:04 am EDT (10:04 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 39. At the destination end, 20 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV GQO110025/TM 1004/FL350/TP B38M/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 39
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm east (110°) of GQO
Time
10:04 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 39
B739 at 36,000 ft, 37 nm north, 7:34 am EDT (11:34 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ztlfd 36. At the destination end, 37 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ATL UA /OV HCH250025/TM 1134/FL360/TP B739/TB LGT/RM ZTLFD 36
```
Report
a routine report filed through ATL
Where
25 nm west (250°) of HCH
Time
11:34 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light
Remarks
ztlfd 36
C56X at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 7:04 am EDT (11:04 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1104/FL010/TP C56X/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
11:04 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C56X
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure
CRJ9 at 1,000 ft, 0 nm west, 6:15 am EDT (10:15 UTC): remarks: during the climb runway 20 departure. At the destination end, 0 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
CHA UA /OV CHA/TM 1015/FL010/TP CRJ9/SK TOP010/RM DURC. RY 20 DEPARTURE
```
Report
a routine report filed through CHA
Where
over CHA
Time
10:15 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
TOP010
Remarks
during the climb runway 20 departure

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 4 forecast points nearest it (PIE, TLH, CSG, ATL). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	340° at 22 kt	+22 kt		98 kt	5 h 31 min	1:44 pm EDT (17:44 UTC)
6,500 ft	340° at 23 kt	+23 kt	16 °C	97 kt	5 h 34 min	1:47 pm EDT (17:47 UTC)
8,500 ft	350° at 21 kt	+21 kt	12 °C	99 kt	5 h 27 min	1:40 pm EDT (17:40 UTC)
10,500 ft	330° at 17 kt	+17 kt	9 °C	103 kt	5 h 15 min	1:28 pm EDT (17:28 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	+14 kt	6 °C	106 kt	5 h 06 min	1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 17 kt	+15 kt	1 °C	105 kt	5 h 09 min	1:22 pm EDT (17:22 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	+16 kt	-3 °C	104 kt	5 h 12 min	1:25 pm EDT (17:25 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	310° at 21 kt	+17 kt	-6 °C	103 kt	5 h 15 min	1:28 pm EDT (17:28 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	330° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-17 °C	95 kt	5 h 41 min	1:54 pm EDT (17:54 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 30 kt	+29 kt	-32 °C	91 kt	5 h 56 min	2:09 pm EDT (18:09 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	330° at 30 kt	+30 kt	-41 °C	90 kt	6 h	2:13 pm EDT (18:13 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 20 kt	+19 kt	-51 °C	101 kt	5 h 21 min	1:34 pm EDT (17:34 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
PIE	used from 0 nm out; 72 nm from the line	360/10	340/12 18°	330/9 13°	290/12 8°	260/21 -7°	280/18 -18°	250/20 -33°	250/26 -41°	250/20 -51°
TLH	used from 196 nm out; 69 nm from the line	340/23	350/26 17°	350/21 11°	300/13 6°	320/25 -6°	340/35 -16°	350/44 -32°	360/51 -42°	350/33 -52°
CSG	used from 344 nm out; 47 nm from the line	330/27	340/28 16°	350/28 11°	330/17 6°	340/25 -6°	350/33 -18°	330/46 -32°	340/45 -41°	350/31 -52°
ATL	used from 393 nm out; 32 nm from the line	330/32	340/36 17°	350/34 10°	340/25 6°	330/27 -6°	350/35 -18°	330/49 -32°	340/47 -41°	340/27 -51°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
RSW Fort Myers, FL	departure	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	29 ft	7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC)
PGD Punta Gorda, FL	29 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR	from the north-northeast (030°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	25 ft	11:53 UTC
TPA Tampa, FL	98 nm out, 12 nm southwest of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 18,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the north (010°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	26 ft	11:53 UTC
BKV Brooksville, FL	118 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower	marginal VFR Weather: mist	from the north (350°) at 3 knots	3 mi	none	76 ft	11:53 UTC
CTY Cross City, FL	196 nm out, 9 nm west of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	42 ft	11:55 UTC
VLD Valdosta, GA	265 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	9 mi	none	203 ft	11:53 UTC
ABY Albany, GA	324 nm out, 24 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	196 ft	11:53 UTC
CKF Cordele, GA	344 nm out, 6 nm east of the line	VFR Sky: a broken layer at 5,000 feet, a broken layer at 8,000 feet, a broken layer at 10,000 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms	calm	10+ mi	5,000 ft	309 ft	22:30 UTC
OPN Thomaston, GA	403 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	reported, no category	from the north (360°) at 5 knots		none	797 ft	11:55 UTC
FTY Atlanta, GA	462 nm out, 7 nm east of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	841 ft	11:53 UTC
CZL Calhoun, GA	501 nm out, 2 nm north of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 100 feet Weather: fog	calm	0.25 mi	100 ft	655 ft	11:55 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	destination	low IFR Sky: sky obscured at 200 feet Weather: fog	from the west (270°) at 3 knots	0.13 mi	200 ft	682 ft	7:53 am EDT (11:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 841 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At CHA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:19 pm EDT (17:19 UTC)

Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for CHA

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility ¼ mile, fog, sky obscured at 200 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet
From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Tue 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility 3 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 200 feet

The forecast for RSW, the departure

From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC) and 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): a broken layer at 1,200 feet
From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northeast at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/6783 Perry, GA, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 19, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 373 nm along the route · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 19 October · ZTL
6/8928 Atlanta, GA, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, 452 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZTL

Daylight

Sunset at RSW 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 UTC), at CHA 7:10 pm EDT (23:10 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:35 pm EDT (23:35 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Southwest Florida International, Lovell Field.